Todos somos monstruos: Distopí­a, injusticia e hibridez en tres obras de la narrativa latinoamericana contemporánea

Abstract

While the monster has traditionally played the role of the villain and has symbolized the Other, I propose that it also represents the self. These beings may be protagonists or narrators whose ordeals highlight the injustices inherent in binary categorization. They invite us to reflect on the meaning of “difference” and to find parts of ourselves that don’t fit neatly into social schema. In this study I employ a formal analysis of narrative mode in an attempt to understand the relationship between the natural and supernatural in three contemporary Latin American novels. In addition, I examine the use of various Gothic narrative techniques, as well as utilizing close reading, mythological contextualization, and comparisons with canonical texts in order to reflect on the nature of the monster and, therefore, the representation of dystopia and social injustice in three contemporary Latin American novels.